Majestic Time: An Exhibition Of The Clocks Of Thomas Tompion

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Time For Everyone symposium in Pasadena, California. In addition to learning about all manner of time related topics, including time and the brain, the establishment of standardized timekeeping, and the public display of time, I visited the opening of Majestic Time, an exhibition commemorating the 300th anniversary of the death of legendary British clockmaker Thomas Tompion. Here is an inside look at this truly amazing collection of clocks.

Before we get into the exhibition itself, a little background on Tompion will be useful. He's quite an enigmatic figure, born in Bedfordshire, England in 1639. From his baptism records until he turned up in London in 1670, very little is known of the man. But once he burst onto the London watch and clock making scene, he quickly made a name for himself. Eventually, Tompion would earn the commission two build two clocks for the newly erected Royal Observatory in Greenwich, clocks which you can still visit today in their original setting.

Tompion's apprentices Edward Banger and George Graham (who, as an aside, both married nieces of Tompion's) would both go on to become famous in their own rights. Graham would continue Tompion's serial numbering system after he died in 1713, which he was the first to institute, meaning we could in some ways consider him the first proper clock "brand." While he made many more watches than clocks (over 5,000 versus only 760), it is mostly the latter that survived.

The clocks on display here are from the collection of John C. Taylor an expert on Tompion who, literally, flew himself from the Isle of Man to Pasadena to share his collection with the symposium attendees. Here are a few of the highlights from the exhibition:

Tompion might be best known today for his table clocks like this example. Called the "Sussex Tompion," this 8-day clock was made in 1681 for the Duke of Susses. It is one of only five two-train clocks Tompoion made with grande sonnerie striking mechanisms. All adjustments are made from the front of the clock, which is what the small dials and hands are for at the corners of the main dial. The top left dial raises or lowers the pendulum, the top right turns the striking on and off, and the bottom dials lock the pendulum for when the clock must be moved. The slit at 12 o'clock allows you to watch the pendulum gently swing above Tompion's signature.

Earlier in his career, Tompion made these Lantern style clocks (circa 1680), a throwback to a sixteenth century style. The larger hour hand was the only time indicator, and you would need to use the large half and smaller quarter hour markers on the chapter ring to read the time more accurately. The smaller hand was used to set the chiming alarm, with a bell housed in the cupola above the dial.

As mentioned, Tompion did make many more watches than clocks throughout his career. This watch, dating to circa 1681, is what was known as a "clockwatch," because it struck the hour like a larger clock would – think of it as an extra petite sonnerie. Utilizing an early spiral balance spring, this was much more accurate than most pocket watches of the day, and of course the movement is gilt brass. The ornate series of nested cases and various calendar scales on the dial really put this watch over the top.

Another pocket watch, this example is from nearly two decades later in 1697. It has a quarter repeater that was specially hidden in the movement to prevent other watchmakers from stealing the mechanism. Again, we have ornate case and dial design and a spiral balance spring. This watch was once in the collection of the famous Time Museum in Rockford, Illinois.

The "Selby Lowndes Tompion," made circa 1693, is one of the most famous Tompion clocks of all. It is the third of twelve three-train grande sonnerie clocks Tompion made during his career. It was originally sold to William Lowndes, Secretary to the Treasury of Great Britain in 1695, and remained in the original family until the 1920s. This is one that you really have to see to fully appreciate. It's nothing short of a masterpiece.

This long case clock is from later in Tompion's career. Made circa 1700, it is a "month-going" clock, meaning the effective power reserve was one month long, reducing the number of times the clock must be reset. This improved accuracy and over 60 such clocks were produced by Tompion, while most of his clocks ran for 8 days. The anchor escapement would cause the running seconds hand at 12 o'clock to bob, meaning it rocks a little at each second. This is a very charming effect, though it does mean reading the seconds is a bit more difficult.

The exhibition will eventually make its way to the NAWCC Museum and we'll have all the details for you once they are available.

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